For performances in a variety
of venues from rugged trails to road events in the US and overseas, USA Track
& Field's Mountain/Ultra/Trail (MUT) Running Council selected the following
ultrarunners as the 2004 men's and women's ultrarunners of the year in open and
master's categories.

Dave Mackey - (34,
Colo.) From setting a course record (7:51:07) at the Zane Grey 50 Mile trail
race in April to his first place finish at the Mountain Masochist 50 Mile trail
race (6:52:28) in October which was the second fastest time run on that course,
Dave Mackey ran an impressive season of ultras including second place finish at
the prestigious Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (16:30:17) in June. Mackey
also won the 2004 Montrail Ultra Cup highlighting his strength and speed on
tough mountain trails. These achievements earned him the 2005 Ted Corbitt Award
for men's ultrarunner of the year.

Nikki Kimball - (33, MT)
Kimball racked up an impressive set of ultra wins this year including the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (18:43:25) in California in June, the USATF White River 50 Mile
Trail Championship (7:45:21) in Washington in July and Mountain Masochist
50 Mile (7:55:57) in October. Her 2004 season of racing produced a series of top
performances to win the 2004 Montrail Ultra Cup. Kimball also raced at the World
Cup 100K in September in Holland demonstrating speed on both trail and road
venues. For these performances she is named the 2005 USATF women's ultrarunner
of the year and receives the Ruth Anderson Award.

Ann Heaslett - (40, Wisc.)
Heaslett's overall wins at the HUFF 50K (4:15:48) in December 2003 and Ice Age
50 Mile (7:30:00) in May along with two sub-8:40 100K performances in 2004
demonstrate her versatility and talent on a variety of terrains and distances.
In 2004 Heaslett began competing as a masters athlete and earned the 2005 USATF
women's masters ultrarunner of the year award. In 2002 Heaslett won the USATF
Ruth Anderson award for her outstanding accomplishments as an open ultrarunner.

William Emerson - (40,
OR) Emerson ran 23 ultras between November 1, 2003 and October 31, 2004.
Being a master didn't stop him from winning 16 events overall and setting 7
course records besides his 16 masters course
records. The resilient master, who finished no less than 6th place in any
race, has been named USATF men's masters ultrarunner of the year.

William Emerson's 2004
Runner of the Year Ultra
Races

Race

Date

Time

Place

Tanks
a Lot 50K

11/8/2003

3:58:49

1st,
CR

Quad
Dipsea 28M

11/29/2003

4:01:02

1st

Tiger Mt. Fat Ass

1/3/2004

5:20:00

1st

Bridle
Trails 50K

1/10/2004

3:44:28

1st,
CR

HURT 100K

1/17/2004

13:26:00

1st, CR

Hilo to Volcano 50K

1/24/2004

3:58:00

1st, Masters CR

Lord Hill 33 Miler

2/7/2004

4:16:00

1st, CR

Haag
Lake 50K

2/21/2004

3:52:28

1st,
Masters CR

Dirty
Duo 50K

3/6/2004

4:54:40

1st,
CR

Chuckanut
Mountain 50K

3/13/2004

4:13:46

1st,
Masters CR

Rucky
Chucky 50K

3/20/2004

4:29:02

1st,
Masters CR

Mt
Si Relay and 50K Ultra

4/4/2004

3:27:03

1st,
CR

Diez Vista 50K

4/10/2004

4:28:00

1st, Masters CR

Leona
Divide 50M

4/17/2004

6:57:05

3rd,
Masters CR

McDonald
Forest 50K

5/8/2004

4:23:29

3rd,
Masters CR

Winter
Hawk Six Hour

6/19/2004

43.6

2nd,
Masters CR

Knee
Knackering North Shore 30M

7/10/2004

5:16:54

2nd

White
River 50M USATF Trail Championship

7/31/2004

7:22:08

6th,
Masters National Champion

Stormy
67K

8/14/2004

5:24:44

1st

Where's
Waldo 100K

8/21/2004

11:43:10

4th,
Masters CR

McKenzie
River 50K

9/11/2004

4:01:09

3rd

Lost
Soul Ultra 100K

9/24/2004

13:16:32

1st

Capital Peak 50K

10/2/2004

4:32:00

1st,
CR

"Because of the growth of
our USATF national championship ultra program over the last 6 years, and ultra
series such as the Montrail Cup, there were many very competitive performances
to consider this year," says Lorraine Gersitz, MUT Awards Coordinator.
"It's very exciting. On the women's side in particular we had the tightest
vote ever in both the open and masters categories."

The USATF ultrarunners of the
year are voted for by MUT members from nominees who run exemplary performances
at USATF National Ultra Championships, World Cup venues, and other significant
races between November 1, 2003 and October 31, 2004 and who are current USATF
members. These athletes will be presented awards at the Awards Breakfast of the
2004 USATF Annual Conference in Portland, OR on December 4, 2004.

The MUT Council that selects
USATF ultrarunners and contributor of the year was established in 1998 to assist
USATF with the sports of mountain, ultra, and trail running. For information
about MUT and the USATF ultrarunner of the year awards, visit www.usatf.org
and click on Mountain/Ulta/Trail.